www.TeamChicago.org

In just under eight months, GLBT athletes and cultural participants from around the world will gather in a historic, albeit lesser-known part of Germany: Cologne. A quick search in Wikipedia will give you a nice overview of the city's history, layout and unique offerings. But what can you really expect when you arrive? Over the course of several months, Team Chicago would like to properly prepare our members for through a series of articles we lovingly call, "Going Deutsch."

This month's focus: German food.

What's the best way to summarize Germany's culinary staples? Beer and wieners. In all honesty, most guys in Boystown don't live on much else so it would be fair to say that many will find the German kitchen highly welcoming. But just as in life, German sausages, or Wurste, come in all shapes and sizes so how do you know what to munch on?

Here's a quick look at what you may see when perusing a Speisekarte or Menü.Typcially, Germans will use a combination of pork or beef in their sausages, however, veal is also a popular ingredient depending on the sausage type or region. In any case, mustard (or Senf), not ketchup is the condiment of choice (with one exception of Currywurst - see below).

Bratwurst (or Rostbratwurst): these are likely the most recognized, usually made from a combination of pork and beef. Typically, these sausages are grilled and served on a roll or Brötchen with a side of sweet or hot mustard. A Currywurst is a derivative of this in which the sausage is split in half (ouch!) and doused in ketchup and curry powder.

Bockwurst: a veal based sausage that's seasoned with paprika and looks like an extra long and curvy hot dog. Typically, this sausage is boiled in beer and eaten with mustard.

Franfurter: these sausages will most likely remind you of hot dogs but they taste far better - they're made with lean pork and salted bacon, and then smoked.

Knackwurst: these all-beef short and stubby sausages are named because they tend to snap or "knack" when you bite or cut into them. You'll typically get a side of potatoes and sauerkraut with this order.

Thüringer: a specialty from the German state of Thuringia! This sausage starts with the typical combination of pork, beef (sometimes veal) but is flavored with a mixture of caraway, marjoram and garlic.

Nürnberger: think of these as Germany's take on "little smokies". These sausages are also made with pork or beef, and seasoned with marjoram. Not surprisingly, these little guys aren't suited for bun insertion - so they're usually served with sauerkraut, and potatoes.

Blutwurst: blood sausage. Try it if you wish - we're not continuing with additional product descriptions!

Weisswurst: Weiss is German for "white" and a fitting name for this veal-based sausage, seasone with parsely, onion, lemon and cardamom. These sausages are boiled and served with a side of sweet mustard. Some say you shouldn't eat the skin, but we won't judge if you do.

Leberkäse: while this isn't a sausage type, it's certainly appropriate for this article because you're likely to see this offering at snack stands, cafés, etc. Leberkäse is made from pork, beef, onions and spices, formed into a large meatloaf shape and then sliced into thick cuts for sandwiches. It can be served hot or cold.

This is by no means an all encompassing list of the sausage varieties you'll find on your café or restaurant menus, but it's a good start. So tie your napkins around your necks, hoist a beer and wish those around you a Guten Appetit!

*Regrettably, this article does not speak to the vegetarians out there but do not be discouraged! While German cuisine typically skews meat heavy, today's German kitchen is progressing beyond its traditional staples and becoming increasingly "veggie friendly." Just be sure to convey your dietary restrictions to your waiter and she or he can offer you some alternatives. In addition, restaurants within the Cologne, Germany's city center offers a diverse mix of cuisines from around the world including Thai, Mediterranean, Italian, Chinese, French, just to name a few. Most servers do speak English well to provide recommendations and explain menu items to you while you are dining in Cologne.

By Jonathan Isreal
Board Member, Team Chicago
www.TeamChicago.org